I guess some might say, you’re never too old to be a parent.
At least that is what one bald eagle has been proving to people all over the world.
The internet has been abuzz with the heartwarming story of Murphy, a 31-year-old male bald eagle residing at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis County, Mo. It all started when one of the keepers noticed something peculiar about Murphy’s behavior. The eagle was guarding what appeared to be a large depression in the ground, carefully decorated with leaves and branches. In the center – a rock.
Murphy had taken to sitting on the rock, nudging it and protecting it, as if it really were an egg. Visitors to the sanctuary were a bit confused by the sight of a bald eagle just sitting on a rock for days on end, prompting the keepers to put up a sign explaining that Murphy was not hurt or distressed, but was, in fact, incubating a rock.
If you see an eagle lying down in the back left corner under a perch, that’s Murphy! Murphy is not hurt, sick, or otherwise in distress. He has built a nest on the ground, and is very carefully incubating a rock! We wish him the best of luck!”
Photo courtesy of the World Bird Sanctuary
Male bald eagles are known to share parenting responsibilities, so it wasn’t surprising that Murphy was displaying paternal instincts. However, as the sanctuary noted, “Murphy’s channeling of that instinct onto a rock… maybe not so much.” The eagle was even screaming and charging at other eagles in the aviary if they came too close to his “rock baby,” prompting the sanctuary to move him to a separate enclosure for everyone’s safety.
Many people suggested replacing Murphy’s rock with a real egg or getting him a mate, but neither of these options was feasible. Fortunately, fate intervened when a nest containing two chicks was blown down by high winds, with just one of the chicks surviving the fall. That chick was brought to the World Bird Sanctuary’s Wildlife Hospital, where it was given a good prognosis but needed a foster parent to feed and care for it.
The sanctuary staff decided to give Murphy a chance to be a foster parent. “Murphy’s dad instincts were already in high gear,” the sanctuary wrote on April 11, “but at 31 years old, he had never raised a chick before. It’s definitely a gamble, but also the chick’s best chance.” The eaglet was put into a heated cage known as “baby jail” to allow some interaction between the birds and help them get used to one another.
Photo courtesy of the World Bird Sanctuary
On April 12, the sanctuary announced the exciting news: “IT’S HAPPENING!!!!” Bald Eaglet 23-126 was released from baby jail, and Murphy approached carefully and with a lot of curiosity. Was he wondering if his “Rock Baby” had hatched? Maybe. But one thing was clear: Murphy was ready to be a full parent. The sanctuary shared the amazing moment when Murphy fed the eaglet for the first time, saying, “23-126 is not yet old enough to tear food which means MURPHY FED THE BABY!!!!”
People across the world have been captivated by the story of Murphy and the eaglet, with many taking to social media to share their thoughts and emotions. As one commenter wrote, “I can’t believe I’m crying over eagles!” Another joked, “Murphy’s going to be giving a TedTalk: Manifest The Eaglet You Need In Your Life.”
WBS staff has been posting updates on social media, giving updates on the newly-named Dwayne (the “Rock” Johnson), much to the delight of his many fans.
But most importantly, everyone seems to be rooting for Murphy and the eaglet, grateful for the wonders of nature that continue to inspire us all.
Watch the proud papa and his baby, below.